It would increase his official income from seven hundred a year to twelve, and would place him altogether above the world.

His friend, the present secretary, had written to him, assuring him that no other probable competitor was spoken of as being in the field against him.

If such good fortune awaited him, would it not smooth any present difficulty which lay in the way of his marriage with Lily Dale?
But, alas, he had not looked at the matter in that light! Might not the countess help him to this preferment?
And if his destiny intended for him the good things of this world,--secretaryships, commissionerships, chairmanships, and such like, would it not be well that he should struggle on in his upward path by such assistance as good connections might give him?
He sat thinking over it all in his own room on that evening.

He had written twice to Lily since his arrival at Courcy Castle.

His first letter has been given.